My Love A-Growing: Bell Robertson (Pits) c.1856 Greig E
[From: The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Volume 6 by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B. Lyle; Aberdeen University Press, 1995. Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo, recited 383 ballads and songs to Gavin Greig.
She was born Feb. 1, 1841 at Denhead of Boyndlie, her father's croft. She got most of her ballads from her mother, Jean Gall, who was a folk-singer from Strichen (as James Nicol) and her mother's mother, Isobel Stephen, who also was a singer. Bell did not sing and recited the words or wrote them down. The ballads from her grandmother would represent ballads from the early 1800s.
Interesting is the exaggerated age of the young boy (seven) and the use of "Craigston's growing." It's also from Stichen and is similar to Jemes Nicol's.
R. Matteson 2016]
E. My Love A-Growing- recited by Bell Robertson to Gavin Grieg about 1907 in New Pitsligo, Scotland.
Oh father, oh father you've done me great wrong
You've wedded me to a child-young bairn
Who lies all night upon my arm
And my bonnie love's lang a-growing.
CHORUS: And growing, growing said the bonnie may
And my bonny love's lang a-growing.
Oh daughter, oh daughter, I've done you no wrong
I've wedded you to an heir o' lan'
And by him ye have mony bullion ban'
And your bonnie love's daily growing.
CHORUS:
But ae nicht afore that it grew dark
They walked doon by her father's park
And he proved the pleasure o' her heart[1]
And she never thocht lang for growing.
CHORUS:
At seven years auld he wis a mairriet man
At eleven years auld he had a young son
At thirteen year his grave was green
And upset your Craigston's growing[2].
CHORUS:
1. an edited line since sark clearly rhymes- the meaning is the same. Nicols, circa 1822: "Then he lifted up her fine Holland sark,"
2. originally spelled Cragston